Jackson Purchase News

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) emphasized the need for greater investments in hard power to outcompete China in a speech on the Senate floor. McConnell highlighted the urgency of addressing the crisis at the southern border and commended the efforts of his colleagues working on meaningful border security policy.

McConnell pointed out that the national security challenges faced by the United States extend beyond the southern border. He emphasized the importance of addressing the strategic challenge posed by an increasingly aggressive China. McConnell described China as an expansionist, revisionist, and repressive power that seeks to impose its will on its neighbors.

The recent elections in Taiwan served as a reminder of the threat that China poses to autonomy and self-determination. McConnell praised the people of Taiwan for resisting Beijing's interference and expressed concern over the fragility of autonomy in the face of Chinese aggression. He drew attention to the plight of Jimmy Lai, a publisher in Hong Kong who is on trial for committing the "crime of journalism" by seeking to publish the truth at odds with the Chinese Communist Party's narrative.

McConnell highlighted the common cause shared by authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. These regimes prioritize control and fear over truth and legitimacy. China, in particular, subjects its citizens to extensive surveillance, censorship, and repression, including the mistreatment of ethnic minorities like the Uyghurs.

The Senate Republican Leader warned that China is building a military with the capacity to bend its neighbors to its will and impose prohibitive costs on the United States. He emphasized the need for the United States and its allies to invest in military capabilities and industrial capacity to effectively compete with China.

McConnell stressed that winning the competition with China requires credible deterrence and a focus on American strength. He called for greater investments in the military and industrial sectors to ensure that the West is not caught unprepared for the challenge. McConnell urged the Senate to take hard power investments seriously and be ready to seize the opportunities ahead.

In conclusion, McConnell's remarks underscore the critical need for the United States to prioritize investments in hard power to outcompete China. Recognizing China's aggressive behavior and its impact on regional stability, McConnell emphasized the importance of strengthening military capabilities and industrial capacity to effectively deter Beijing's worst impulses.